86 



THE BIOLOGY OF INSECTS 



each rod are grouped eight elongate cells which compose 

 the retinula (rt) of the element, and each retinular cell is 

 prolonged into a fibre that perforates the inner basement 



Fig. 29. — Details of Ommatidia of Compound Eye of Honey Bee, 

 A, Longitudinal section of an ommatidium ; B, Surface view ; C, 

 Oblique transverse section through apices of cones and outer region of 

 retinulae ; D, Transverse section through retinulae and rhabdoms. cr, 

 corneal facet and lens ; c, crystalline cone ; r, rhabdom ; rt, retinula ; 

 />, pigment cells ; «, nerve-fibre. A and B X 450. C and D X 1000. 

 After E. F. Phillips. 



membrane of the eye and passes on towards the optic 

 ganglion. Each series of lens, crystalline cone, rhabdom 



